Travel video guide
Things to Do in Ayvalık, Balıkesir: 3 Places
This guide turns AYVALIK GEZİLECEK YERLER | Cunda - Küçükköy - Şeytan Sofrası from Nerede Gezelim into a practical travel map with 3 saved spots around Ayvalık and Küçükköy. The mapped places include an area marker and a scenic spot. Use it to understand the places, food notes, and trip context before saving the map in Varedelo.
What the creator captured
Nerede Gezelim highlights the cultural transformation of the region, particularly focusing on how historic Greek houses and churches have been repurposed into museums and galleries. Hande was especially impressed by the artistic revival of Küçükköy, which evolved from a neglected village into a prestigious 'art village' recognized by UNESCO and the Ministry of Culture. The experience blends deep historical narratives of the population exchange with the unique flavors of Aegean cuisine.
What this map is good for
- Planning a scenic spot stop or short itinerary in Ayvalık.
- Seeing where the mapped places sit together before choosing what to visit first.
- Saving 3 mapped spots into Varedelo so the list stays usable on the ground.
- Using the original video as context, then turning it into a clean place-by-place map.
Featured spots on this map
- Ayvalık
Area marker in Ayvalık, Balıkesir, Türkiye, Ayvalık, Balıkesir, Türkiye - Şeytan Sofrası
Scenic Spot in Küçükköy, 10400 Ayvalık/Balıkesir, Türkiye, Küçükköy, Ayvalık, Balıkesir, Türkiye
Hours: Hours available - Küçükköy
Area marker in Küçükköy, 10410 Ayvalık/Balıkesir, Türkiye, Küçükköy, Balıkesir, Türkiye
Food notes from the video
- Bademli muhallebi
- Damla sakızlı muhallebi
- Ayvalık tostu
- Lor tatlısı
- Damla sakızlı dondurma
- Dibek kahvesi
- Ada lokması
Experiences captured
- Explored Macaron neighborhood's historic stone streets
- Visited the Clock Mosque (Saatli Cami)
- Toured the Taksiyarhis Memorial Museum
- Visited Cunda Island and Rahmi Koç Museum
- Took a coffee break at the iconic Taş Kahve
- Explored the art village of Küçükköy
- Visited Artura Gallery and learned about woodcut printing
- Observed local cats in Ayvalık and Cunda
Planning notes for Ayvalık
Ayvalık is a coastal town in the Balıkesir Province of Turkey, situated on the northwestern Aegean coast. Historically known as Kydonies, the town was a center for Greek inhabitants within the Ottoman Empire until the 1923 population exchange. This history is visible in the urban fabric, which consists of approximately 3,800 protected structures, including 19th-century stone houses, churches.
Must-try foods nearby
- Ayvalık Tostu
The town's most famous street food, this massive sandwich is made with a special large-loaved bread and traditionally stuffed with sucuk (Turkish sausage), salami, cheese, pickles. - Papalina
A tiny, delicate fish species unique to the Ayvalık region, often compared to sprats or baby sardines. - Lor Tatlısı
A signature dessert made from fresh, unsalted 'lor' (curd cheese). These soft, porous cakes are baked until golden and then soaked in a light sugar syrup. - Sakızlı Lor Kurabiyesi
These crumbly, aromatic cookies are a staple of Ayvalık's bakeries. They combine local curd cheese with 'damla sakızı' (mastic resin). - Girit Ezmesi
Reflecting the town's Cretan (Girit) heritage, this rich meze is made by blending several types of cheese (often including Ezine and lor) with crushed walnuts, pistachios, garlic.
When to go: The best time to visit Ayvalık is during the shoulder seasons of May to June and September to October, when the weather is pleasantly warm (20–25°C) and ideal for both sightseeing and swimming. July and August mark the peak season, offering hot.
Local tips
- Use the local minibus system, known as dolmuş, for affordable and frequent transport between the town center, Cunda Island, and Sarımsaklı Beach.
- Always accept the first offer of tea in shops or homes, as declining is often perceived as a rejection of local hospitality.
- When dining at waterside restaurants, order mezes and seafood dishes individually as you go rather than all at once to enjoy a traditional, slow-paced Aegean meal.
- Dress modestly by covering your shoulders and knees when exploring the historic cobblestone streets and converted mosque-churches in the old residential quarters.
What travelers are noticing
- X International Sea & Sand Days Festival (June 19–23, 2026): A major cultural event featuring international music and folk dance competitions along the Aegean coast.
- I. International Choir Festival (July 1–5, 2026): A new large-scale cultural exchange bringing global choral groups to historic venues and Cunda Island.
- Sustainable Gastronomy & 'Zero-Waste' Dining: A shift toward hyper-local olive oil sourcing and heritage recipes, driven by Türkiye's 2026 national mandatory sustainability certifications for local hospitality.
Extra place context
- Şeytan Sofrası
Perched on a volcanic hilltop, this is the most iconic sunset spot in Ayvalık. It offers a 360-degree panoramic vista of the Ayvalık archipelago and the Greek island of Lesbos.
photography - Şeytan Sofrası
A volcanic hilltop famous for a footprint-shaped hollow protected by iron bars, locally called 'The Devil’s Footprint.
Official tourism resource
The official tourism development union for Ayvalık, providing travel guides, accommodation listings, and regional promotional information.
Planning questions
What are the best spots in Ayvalık, Balıkesir from this video?
This guide maps all 3 spots featured in the video, with names, addresses, and neighborhoods, so you can plan your trip to Ayvalık, Balıkesir.
What are the must-try foods in Ayvalık, Balıkesir?
Creator picks from the video include Bademli muhallebi, Damla sakızlı muhallebi, Ayvalık tostu, Lor tatlısı. Open the map in Varedelo to see which spot each one is at.
Can I save these spots to use on my trip?
Yes. Open the map in Varedelo to save every spot, get directions, and revisit the guide from your phone while you travel.
Use it on your trip
Save this travel map before you go
Keep the mapped spots, creator context, food notes, and planning details together. Varedelo turns the page into a phone-friendly map you can revisit when you are choosing where to go.